Pope Benedict says thanks, offers a blessing in his first Tweet

Dec. 12 - Using the handle @Pontifex, Pope Benedict sent out his first Tweet on the social media networking site Twitter. Deborah Gembara reports.

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After weeks of anticipation, and with a tap of the screen, Pope Benedict sent out his first tweet on Twitter.
His handle? @Pontifex .
The famously verbose pontiff kept it brief --- adhering to the social networking site's 140 character limit.
His message: "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart."
His tweet was distributed to his more than one million followers.
Outside the Vatican, tourists offered suggestions for upcoming tweets
SOUNDBITE: Lidia Buffalino, Lidia Buffalino, an Australian tourist of Italian descent saying:
"It'll be interesting to understand what his views are on abortion and I don't know, other issues that the Catholic Church seems to be a bit more vague about."
SOUNDBITE: Israeli tourist Elan Ben Gigi said.
"Well, I will advise him to visit Israel again, I'm from Israel. So, I will advise him to help us to get peace with the Palestinians. That's all."
Since his debut tweet, the pople has already answered three questions --- most of them having to do with faith.